The Green Party has called on the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to commission an urban framework plan for Moore Street and designate the area as an historic quarter. As occupations continue to try and halt the demolition of No’s 13, 18 and 19 Moore Street, the Green Party accused the Minister of being disingenuous in her statement regarding the area’s future.Green Party City Councillor Ciarán Cuffe stated: “Twenty five years ago when Temple Bar faced demolition for a Bus Station the Government designated the area as a cultural quarter and commissioned a framework plan to safeguard the area’s future. We now need a similar initiative from Minister Humphreys.

“In recent days Minister Humphreys has been wringing her hands and making misleading statements that play into the hands of developers.

She said protestors are attempting to ‘jeopardise the project’. They are not; they are simply trying to ensure more of the built heritage is protected.

She said ‘No’s 13 and 18 and 19 are not part of the National Monument, and are not historically significant.’ This is incorrect; they are historically significant as they are integral parts of the urban fabric of the street.

She said the National Monument ‘is an old building built without proper foundations.’ If she is prepared to be this dismissive of older buildings this casts doubts on her credentials as Minister for Heritage.

She said gables need to be inserted on the National Monument, ‘which are necessary to safeguard its long term stability.’ However the buildings already have gables and demolishing the surrounding buildings is not required to ensure their stability.

“Moore Street is important due its role in the birth of the nation, but the surrounding streets are of huge heritage and social value. Any new building proposals should protect this. Saving Moore Street is not just about the Easter Rising, it is about protecting small businesses and hundred years of history from the wrecking ball.“Now is the time for the Minister to publicly declare that she will commission a new plan for the area that protects the historic buildings within the area, but that also allows for new buildings on infill sites. This is what happened in Temple Bar, and a similar approach is needed here. It is time to end the ‘scorched earth’ approach to heritage and the Minister with responsibility for Heritage can, and should lead the way.“At Monday’s Dublin City Council meeting the Green Party will propose an Emergency Motion that reads as follows:“That this Council requests the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to commission an urban framework plan for Moore Street and designate the area bounded by Moore Street, Parnell Street, O’Connell Street Upper and Henry Street as an historic quarter, and halt any further building demolitions in the area.”Green Party Candidate for Dublin Bay North Donna Cooney is the great grand-niece of Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell who evacuated to Moore Street from the GPO in Easter 1916 and who took the message of surrender to General Low. She stated:“Now is the time for the Minister to publicly declare that she will commission a new plan for the area that protects the historic buildings within the area, but that also allows for sensitive infill buildings on any empty sites. All of the older buildings on the Moore Street Terrace are part of the ‘Battlefield Site’ and worth retaining, along with the surrounding heritage buildings.This is what happened in Temple Bar, and a similar approach is needed here. It is time to end the ‘scorched earth’ approach to heritage and the Minister with responsibility for Heritage can, and should lead the way.Green Party Candidate for Dublin Central Ian Smyth stated: “Planning Permission for the dated Celtic Tiger era shopping mall runs out in just over a year. That proposal for the ‘Dublin Central’ scheme is flawed for the following reasons and should not proceed.

-The proposed building heights would grossly overshadow the National Monument and ruin its setting.

-The city doesn’t need another shopping Centre across the road from the ILAC Centre, and a stone’s throw from the Jervis Centre.

-the plans contains only a token amount of housing; 17 units dwellings is a derisory amount of housing in a proposal this large, especially when we are in the middle of a housing crisis.

-700 car parking spaces are in conflict with current transport policies that favour public transport.

-The plans don’t adequately protect the small businesses and stalls that are the lifeblood of the area.

-The proposal predates The Office of Public Works’ recently published National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for Dublin City which states that 32 buildings in the block bounded by Moore Street, Henry Street, O’Connell Street and Parnell Street are of ‘Regional Importance’*. The developers are proposing to demolish two thirds of these, and merely keep the facades of some of the others.

“Now is the time for Minister Humphreys to commit to a framework plan that will allow for development on the site, but also protect our past in the Easter Rising’s centenary year. She should also engage with UK Developers Hammerson PLC and explain to them the historical importance of this part of our capital city.”ENDSNote*The Office of Public Works’ recently published National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for Dublin City states that No’s 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Moore Street and 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 Henry Street and 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62 O’Connell Street and 71 Parnell Street are of Regional Importance http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/Page last updated 1oth January 2016